If there is one thing that is missing from WhatsApp, that is video calling and fans across the world have been waiting for a video calling service on the app. WhatsApp is the leader amongst all the messaging apps considering it’s extremely low size and ease of usage. Given the first application advantage, it is very natural for a user to have a video calling feature, otherwise present on other similar applications.
There is nothing to beat Microsoft Skype or Google Hangouts, but WhatsApp is taking the dare it seems and launching a video calling feature soon.
A German website, Macerkopf, has released a series of screenshots showing WhatsApp’s video chat feature considering they have been working on some new features for the past few weeks. The beta version of the application for iOS is being tested right now before the next version is rolled out for the users.
The screenshots show video call in progress and graphics to prove the same. Just like a usual video call, users will have options to mute the call and switch the cameras for the ongoing video. The colours are very reminiscent of WhatsApp app and confirm that this is indeed the beta version of the app. Once this is tested in and out, a final version could be rolled out in the coming weeks, as reported on the website.
Here is a screenshot as shared by Macerkopf:
With WhatsApp now nearly a Billion active user strong, any new feature launched by WhatsApp is bound to be used by millions of users worldwide. If this leak about Video calling is true, it bound to threaten companies that offer video calling services
Additional features to be expected
Apart from working on video chat, WhatsApp developers are looking to introduce ‘tabs’ in the application to switch from one chat to another, just like browsers like Google Chrome, Apple Safari etc. This gives the user ease of shifting from one chat to another without actually going back to the main screen of the application and opening a new chat.
WhatsApp’s green colour is quite iconic now and easily distinguishable from other similar chat services. Having multiple tabs will be the first for any messenger and the UI could be more useful if introduced with an option of having chat heads like Facebook.
To remind you, Facebook had bought WhatsApp in 2014 and consequently started working on making its own Facebook Messenger a standalone service. Currently Facebook Messenger support video calling, which could make Messenger and WhatsApp similar in features.
Apple’s Facetime is also a popular service among Apple users and WhatsApp could be a potential threat to it as well, considering the popularity amongst the youth these days. In any case, healthy competition is good for both the developers and the end users since it is the best product that stands out and delivers value ultimately.
Timely updates and software patches make the product more interesting and keep them engaged, and WhatsApp’s policy has been clean UI along with ease at usage. Hopefully with video chat, one can expect excellent service with low data usage so as to be successful in developing nations as well.
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